Ethno-Botanical Survey Review

Abstract

The chapter is a review on ethno-botanical studies on medicinal trees of the biotype Sertão, which comprises 80% areal of Pernambuco, Brazil. Since 1990, interest for natural remedies has grown rapidly. The main reason is the development of antibiotic resistance. Another fact driving this interest is the cost for developing secure, active, non-harming medicines by working through organic syntheses. The scope of this review is to throw light on the huge treasure of public knowledge in applying herbs, trees, and shrubs for the cure of many diseases. The consciousness of what nature can deliver practically free of costs and labor goes back for generations, transmitted within the tribes and between neighbors. Activities, toxicology, side-effects are all empirically gained wisdom. The Sertão has tropical climate and a diversified flora. The review is on trees containing valuable second metabolites which have physiological curing activity. This review may attract interest for inter-college collaboration within the scope of drug design guided by ethno-knowledge.